Chateau Giscours 2025

Vibrant, and silky in the mouth, the wine delivers its multiple layers of sweet, lifted, black cherries, dark cocoa, refreshing mint, spice, and strawberries. There is elegance, and length, with a fruit-filled, refined, energetic finish. Give it a year or two in the bottle, and the wine will be even better. The wine is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot. 13% ABV, pH 3.71. Harvesting took place September 18 - October 11. Drink from 2030-2060.

• Trinkreife: 2030 - 2060
• Name des Kritikers: Jeff Leve

Excellent depth on the aromatics here, plenty of energy, plum and cassis bud, savoury with edge, great depths to the fruit, cocoa bean and incense adds a gourmet smile and a slow build, with oak adding structure and weight. Such good work being done at Giscours over the last few years, with director Alexander van Beek on a roll. Not easy when you've been heading up an estate for so long to make such a transformation but there is undoubtedly a sense of renewal at this estate right now, and this is one to watch. Tasted twice.

• Name des Kritikers: Jane Anson

Deep dark ruby garnet, opaque core, violet reflections, delicate edge brightening. Attractive fresh heart cherries, nuances of cassis, fine wild berry confit, floral nuances, underlaid with candied orange zest. Juicy, elegant, pleasant fruit sweetness, fresh acidity, very precise wine, supporting, silky tannins, cherries on the finish, very good length, sure aging potential.

A fabulous Giscours this year really showcasing the effort and work that's been going on at this estate. Deep and dark nose with blackcurrant leaf, dark chocolate, violets, purple flowers, a medicinal herbal element, mint and cinnamon - but so delicate and precise. Really refined aromatics. So sleek and silky with perfectly balanced tannins that give support but don't overwhelm. Amazing depth and layering here, so well balanced and executed with plenty of concentration but dark and brooding, not heavy or sunny – cool and calm but focused and determined too. Extremely Margaux without any extremes. This really represents the personality of the vintage with Bordeaux energy, tension, focus, juiciness, freshness, ripe and structured ripeness carried by acidity. 3.68pH. A yield of 30hl/ha.

• Trinkreife: 2032 - 2049

As to the Grand Vin, red, blue, and black fruits, intermixed with spring flowers, iris, graphite, and sappy tobacco, all define the 2025 Château Giscours, giving it a beautiful Cabernet-driven style. Based on 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc that's resting in 50% new oak, it's medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a focused, pure, precise mouthfeel, beautiful yet building tannins, and nicely integrated acidity. It checks in at 13.2% alcohol with a pH of 3.68.

The 2025 Giscours was picked at around 31 hl/ha, just above the average for the Margaux appellation, and matured in around 50% new oak for a planned 16 or 17 months from nine cooperages. This has a quintessential Margaux nose, floral in style, violets and iris flower that infuse the quite lush but well defined mixture of black and blueberry fruit. The oak is very well integrated here. The palate is medium-bodied with velvety tannins on the entry matched by a keen thread of acidity. There is a touch of graphite on the back palate, a pleasing crescendo that leads to quite a structured and saline finish. This is one of the finest Giscours in recent years but it will deserve five or six years in bottle to show its mettle and it may well settle at the top of my banded score. 13.3% alcohol.

• Name des Kritikers: Neal Martin

The 2025 Giscours is another brilliant wine from this resurgent property, unwinding in the glass with aromas of wild berries, violets, rose petals and pencil shavings. Medium- to full-bodied, deep and perfumed, it's suave and seamless, with ultra-refined tannins, vibrant acids and a long, perfumed finish. This classy and precise blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc was produced in Giscour's functional temporary winery, which makes temperature control easier than in the estate's old facilities.

• Name des Kritikers: William Kelley

The 2025 Giscours is another magnificent wine for a château that has made giant steps in the last handful of years. Plush and succulent in the glass, with silky, exceptionally polished tannins and stunning mid-palate richness, the Giscours is pure and total sensuality. Dark red-toned fruit, pomegranate, spice, new leather, incense and dried flowers all race across the palate. The purity of the flavors is just remarkable. Tasted two times.

• Trinkreife: 2035 - 2065
• Name des Kritikers: Antonio Galloni